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In Florida, candidates for federal, state, and local office attain ballot access by filing qualifying documents, including a statement of financial interests, and paying filing and election assessment fees within statutorily-set qualifying periods. Additionally, political parties often require that a candidate pay a party assessment fee. Prospective candidates can skirt these qualifying fees by submitting a petition, signed by a number of voters equal to at least one percent of the total number of registered voters in the area represented by the office sought by the candidate, to the county supervisor of elections. Following a petition’s submission, the supervisor verifies signatures and certifies the number of valid signatures. If the supervisor determines that a local candidate has met the required number of signature petitions, he informs the candidate of his eligibility. If the candidate is running for federal, statewide, or multicounty office, the supervisor must tender the certification to the Division of Elections, which determines if the petition has gathered the requisite signatures and, if so, notifies the candidate of his eligibility.